Accusative and infinitive: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Type of grammatical construction}} |
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In [[grammar]], '''accusative and infinitive''' is the name for a syntactic construction of [[Latin language|Latin]] and [[Greek language|Greek]], also found in various forms in other languages such as [[English language|English]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]]. In this construction, the subject of a [[subordinate clause]] is put in the [[accusative case]] ([[objective case]] in English) and the verb appears in the [[infinitive]] form. Among other uses, information may be given in this form to indicate ''indirect speech'', also called [[indirect discourse]]. |
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{{more citations needed|date=April 2024}} |
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In [[grammar]], '''accusative and infinitive''' (also '''''Accusativus cum infinitivo''''' or '''accusative plus infinitive''', frequently abbreviated '''ACI''' or '''A+I''') is the name for a syntactic construction first described in [[Latin language|Latin]] and [[Greek language|Greek]], also found in various forms in other languages such as [[English language|English]] and [[Dutch language|Dutch]].{{sfn|Klein|2010}} |
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In this construction, the subject of a [[subordinate clause]] is put in the [[accusative case|accusative]] or [[objective case]] and the verb appears in the [[infinitive]] form. |
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==Description== |
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The construction is often referred to by the Latin term ''Accusativus cum infinitivo'', frequently abbreviated ''ACI''. |
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This construction can be illustrated in English: |
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* ''I believe him to be rich.'' |
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This contains a finite verb (''believe'') followed by a noun phrase in the accusative (''him'') and a non-finite verb (''to be''). Underlying the ACI section is the independent statement. |
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* ''He is rich'' |
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which has become an embedded clause. Thus, the special valency of the verb ''believe'' causes the subject of ''to be'' to appear unintuitively in the object case. The key element of an ACI is that the accusative is not the object of the infinitive, and this distinguishes it from a construction like ''I hope to see him soon'', where the accusative pronoun ''him'' is a straightforward object and no special rules are in operation. |
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==In Latin== |
==In Latin== |
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{{Latin grammar}} |
{{Latin grammar}} |
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{{see|Latin |
{{see|Latin indirect speech}} |
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The ''accusative and infinitive'' is the usual grammatical construction by means of which Classical Latin expressed indirect statements, that is, statements which report what someone has said, thought, felt, etc. Whereas a direct statement would |
The ''accusative and infinitive'' is the usual grammatical construction by means of which Classical Latin expressed indirect statements, that is, statements which report what someone has said, thought, felt, etc. Whereas a direct statement would be |
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:"I am a good student," says Julia. |
:"I am a good student," says Julia. |
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the indirect statement might |
the indirect statement might be |
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:Julia says that she is a good student. |
:Julia says that she is a good student. |
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Latin tends not to use a conjunction equivalent to the English "that" to introduce indirect statements. Rather, an [[accusative case|accusative]] subject is used with an [[infinitive]] to develop the appropriate meaning. For example, translating the aforementioned example into Latin: |
Classical Latin tends not to use a conjunction equivalent to the English "that" to introduce indirect statements. Rather, an [[accusative case|accusative]] subject is used with an [[infinitive]] to develop the appropriate meaning. For example, translating the aforementioned example into Latin: |
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:{{lang|la|Iūlia dīcit sē bonam discipulam esse.}} |
:{{lang|la|Iūlia dīcit sē bonam discipulam esse.}} |
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:{{lang|la|Dīxērunt eum iuvāre eam.}} |
:{{lang|la|Dīxērunt eum iuvāre eam.}} |
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would still be translated "They said he ''was helping'' her," even though iuvāre is |
would still be translated "They said he ''was helping'' her," even though iuvāre is a present infinitive. |
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Passive periphrastic infinitives, i.e. the gerundive + {{lang|la|esse}}, indicate obligatory action in indirect statements, e.g. {{lang|la|Gāius dīcit litterās tibi scrībendās esse}}, "Gaius says that the letters ought to be written by you." |
Passive periphrastic infinitives, i.e. the gerundive + {{lang|la|esse}}, indicate obligatory action in indirect statements, e.g. {{lang|la|Gāius dīcit litterās tibi scrībendās esse}}, "Gaius says that the letters ought to be written by you."{{sfn|Wheelock |2005}} |
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In late classical and [[Medieval Latin]], the ACI gradually gave way to a construction with {{lang|la|quod}}. |
In late classical and [[Medieval Latin]], the ACI gradually gave way to a construction with {{lang|la|quod}} with the subjunctive. |
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:{{lang|la|Iūlia dīcit quod bona discipula |
:{{lang|la|Iūlia dīcit quod bona discipula sit.}} |
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This was probably the more common usage in spoken Latin and is the form used consistently in [[Jerome]]'s Vulgate, which reflects a colloquial style. It is also the equivalent of the [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] indirect statement introduced by {{lang|grc|ὅτι}}. This is the origin of the construction in the modern [[Romance languages]] such as [[French language|French]]: |
This was probably the more common usage in spoken Latin and is the form used consistently in [[Jerome]]'s Vulgate, which reflects a colloquial style. It is also the equivalent of the [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] indirect statement introduced by {{lang|grc|ὅτι}}. This is the origin of the construction in the modern [[Romance languages]] such as [[French language|French]]: |
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:''Julia dit qu'elle est une bonne élève.'' |
:''Julia dit qu'elle est une bonne élève.'' |
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==In English |
==In English== |
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{{see|Exceptional case-marking}} |
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In English, the ACI construction occurs more so than other European languages, normally with verbs of wishing, saying and perceiving, as well as in [[causative]] clauses. Depending on the valency of the main verb in the sentence, English may use the infinitive with or without the infinitive marker ''to''. |
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* ''I would like '''the President to be''' successful.'' |
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* ''I saw '''her go'''.'' |
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* ''I wouldn't want '''them to think''' me unfair''. |
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* ''I imagine '''that to be''' true.'' |
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* ''I believe '''there to be''' no alternative.'' |
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* ''She considers '''herself to have''' a fine reputation.'' |
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* ''She made '''me eat''' the vegetables.'' |
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* ''The teacher let '''the children go''' home early.'' |
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* ''Please don't have '''me get''' down on my knees.'' |
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| ⚫ | |||
In English, this construction occurs with verbs of wishing, saying and perceiving (e.g. ''I would like the President to be successful''; ''I saw her go'', ''I believe that to be true'') as well as in [[causative]] clauses (e.g. ''She made me eat the vegetables''; ''The teacher let him stand outside the classroom''). In Spanish, it is used in causatives as well (''Me obligó a mirarlo'' "He forced me to look at him") and in perception verbs (''Los vi caminar por aquí'' "I saw them walk around here"), but it is not permitted in other cases. For example, in English one may say ''I told him to do it'', but in Spanish one must say ''Le dije que lo hiciera'' "I said to him that he do it" (using the [[Subjunctive mood#The subjunctive in Spanish|subjunctive mood]]), not ''*Le dije hacerlo'' or any other construction with the infinitive. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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<references/> |
<references/> |
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==Sources== |
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* {{Cite journal |last=Klein |first=Maarten |year=2010 |editor-last=Zwart |editor-first=Jan-Wouter |editor2-last=de Vries |editor2-first=Mark |title=The accusative infinitive in Latin, English and Dutch |journal=Structure Preserved: Studies in syntax for Jan Koster. Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today |publisher=John Benjamins Publishing Company |publication-place=Amsterdam |volume=164 |pages=231-237}} |
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* {{Cite book |last=Wheelock |first=Frederic M. |title=[[Wheelock's Latin]] |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |year=2005 |isbn=0-06-078371-0}} |
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[[Category:Latin grammar]] |
[[Category:Latin grammar]] |
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Latest revision as of 21:06, 20 June 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2024) |
In grammar, accusative and infinitive (also Accusativus cum infinitivo or accusative plus infinitive, frequently abbreviated ACI or A+I) is the name for a syntactic construction first described in Latin and Greek, also found in various forms in other languages such as English and Dutch.[1] In this construction, the subject of a subordinate clause is put in the accusative or objective case and the verb appears in the infinitive form.
Description
[edit]This construction can be illustrated in English:
- I believe him to be rich.
This contains a finite verb (believe) followed by a noun phrase in the accusative (him) and a non-finite verb (to be). Underlying the ACI section is the independent statement.
- He is rich
which has become an embedded clause. Thus, the special valency of the verb believe causes the subject of to be to appear unintuitively in the object case. The key element of an ACI is that the accusative is not the object of the infinitive, and this distinguishes it from a construction like I hope to see him soon, where the accusative pronoun him is a straightforward object and no special rules are in operation.
In Latin
[edit]| Latin grammar |
|---|
The accusative and infinitive is the usual grammatical construction by means of which Classical Latin expressed indirect statements, that is, statements which report what someone has said, thought, felt, etc. Whereas a direct statement would be
- "I am a good student," says Julia.
the indirect statement might be
- Julia says that she is a good student.
Classical Latin tends not to use a conjunction equivalent to the English "that" to introduce indirect statements. Rather, an accusative subject is used with an infinitive to develop the appropriate meaning. For example, translating the aforementioned example into Latin:
- Iūlia dīcit sē bonam discipulam esse.
- literally: 'Julia says herself to be a good student.'
Sē here is an accusative reflexive pronoun referring back to the subject of the main verb i.e. Iūlia ; esse is the infinitive "to be."
Note that the tense of the infinitive, translated into English, is relative to the tense of the main verb. Present infinitives, also called contemporaneous infinitives, occur at the time of the main verb. Perfect infinitives (prior infinitives) occur at a time before the main verb. Future infinitives (subsequent infinitives) occur at a time after the main verb. For example, the contemporaneous infinitive in this sentence,
- Dīxērunt eum iuvāre eam.
would still be translated "They said he was helping her," even though iuvāre is a present infinitive.
Passive periphrastic infinitives, i.e. the gerundive + esse, indicate obligatory action in indirect statements, e.g. Gāius dīcit litterās tibi scrībendās esse, "Gaius says that the letters ought to be written by you."[2]
In late classical and Medieval Latin, the ACI gradually gave way to a construction with quod with the subjunctive.
- Iūlia dīcit quod bona discipula sit.
This was probably the more common usage in spoken Latin and is the form used consistently in Jerome's Vulgate, which reflects a colloquial style. It is also the equivalent of the Greek indirect statement introduced by ὅτι. This is the origin of the construction in the modern Romance languages such as French:
- Julia dit qu'elle est une bonne élève.
In English
[edit]In English, the ACI construction occurs more so than other European languages, normally with verbs of wishing, saying and perceiving, as well as in causative clauses. Depending on the valency of the main verb in the sentence, English may use the infinitive with or without the infinitive marker to.
- I would like the President to be successful.
- I saw her go.
- I wouldn't want them to think me unfair.
- I imagine that to be true.
- I believe there to be no alternative.
- She considers herself to have a fine reputation.
- She made me eat the vegetables.
- The teacher let the children go home early.
- Please don't have me get down on my knees.
In the framework of transformational grammar, the English construction is known as exceptional case-marking.
References
[edit]Sources
[edit]- Klein, Maarten (2010). Zwart, Jan-Wouter; de Vries, Mark (eds.). "The accusative infinitive in Latin, English and Dutch". Structure Preserved: Studies in syntax for Jan Koster. Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today. 164. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company: 231–237.
- Wheelock, Frederic M. (2005). Wheelock's Latin. HarperCollins. ISBN 0-06-078371-0.